Another Year, Another Close Loss To Heels (Video Included)

by Brian Bartley
Video by Ryan Call courtesy Palestra.net
March 13, 2009

Sometimes you just can't rewrite history, no matter how much you may want to.

This time around it looked like Virginia Tech would have enough firepower to grasp revenge and rectify last year's close loss to the North Carolina Tar Heels in the ACC Tournament.  Unfortunately for the Hokies, it was more of the same.  Leading by one with just :56 left, Tech allowed Tyler Hansbrough to dominate the final minute of the game and push the Tar Heels over the top for a 79-76 win, which knocked the Hokies out of the ACC Tournament.

 "Our theme for the last 24 hours has been 'same story, different ending,'" said Virginia Tech head coach Seth Greenberg.  "Unfortunately, we got the same story and the same ending."

Just like in its first round game against the Hurricanes, Tech maintained a decent cushion early in the first half. 

That didn't last long, however, as the Tar Heels would surge their way back into the game on the shoulders of Wayne Ellington.

With just 2:18 remaining in the half, Ellington fired a deep three-pointer that knotted the game at 34.  Delaney would answer on the other end with mid-range jumper to put the Hokies back up by two points, but another Ellington three on the Tar Heels next possession gave North Carolina its first lead of the game with 1:50 left in the half.

With the Tar Heel heavy crowd in a frenzy, it appeared as though Roy Williams' squad would seize complete control of the game. 

Malcolm Delaney ensured this would not happen to his squad though by playing aggressively and picking up some key fouls.  It would have been the perfect opportunity for Tech to take the lead, but the normally consistent Delaney could only convert on three of his five free throw attempts, tying the score back up at 39 with :54 remaining.

The Hokies and Heels would trade baskets one more time, with the Hokies' J.T. Thompson converting on a three-point play, giving the Hokies a one-point lead. 

Carolina would have time for one more possession in the half though, and forward Tyler Zeller made the most of it by sticking in a layup shortly before time expired, giving the Tar Heels a 43-42 advantage going into the break.

The second half brought about foul trouble for the Hokies.  Before the 10:00 mark Jeff Allen had racked up his fourth foul and A.D. Vassallo picked up his third.

"I got in foul trouble," Vassallo said.  "I was hitting shots at that time so I guess it was bad timing...I was trying to do the best I cold to keep the guy in front and the [referees] made the call."

For the rest of the half it was a back-and-forth contest with the lead changing hands eight times.

With the Hokies leading by just a point, Hansbrough went to the low-post, made a spin move, and converted on a layup with :33 left. 

Tech had a chance to take the lead on the next possession, but a questionable call that resulted in a jump ball went against the Hokies.  On the play, Thompson drove down the lane, stopped, was bumped from behind as Hansbrough grabbed the ball.  The possession arrow favored the Tar Heels and the Hokies were forced to foul.

"I saw him coming down the lane," Hansbrough said.  "It looked like he just stopped and I went over to get the ball, plain and simple."

"What I saw doesn't count, so it makes no difference," Greenberg said of the jump ball.  "The only people that count were the guys wearing the striped shirts."

Though Greenberg refused to say much about the play, Delaney said after the game that he felt Thompson was definitely fouled on the possession.

"J.T. was open and they had three people on his back so A.D. was open," Delaney said.  "In my opinion that was a foul.  Three people on somebody's back, that's a foul.  Everyone who knows basketball knows that."

Hansbrough knocked down both of his free throws, leaving Tech just :04 to try and tie the game up with a three-point attempt.

Greenberg drew up one final play in which Vassallo broke lose for a three-point attempt, but the man of the hour, Hansbrough, ran out to put a hand in his face causing Vassallo's shot to glance off the rim as the buzzer sounded.

"First, we wanted to get A.D. on a quick flare screen to give him a chance to 1-on-1, but it just didn't work," Greenberg said.

"I saw A.D. kind of cut loose so I left my man and was pretty confident he was going to take the last shot," Hansbrough said.  "I stepped out there and I didn't foul him because I thought he was close to shooting so I didn't want to take a chance there.  I just put my hand up and hoped he would miss."

"I only had three seconds left," Vassallo said.  "I had to make a quick decision.  I didn't think Hansbrough would come out and help."

This disappointing loss to the Tar Heels comes with similar ramifications as last season's.  The Hokies now have to sit and wait with hopes the NCAA selection committee will show more mercy than they did after last season.

"I doubt they put us in the tournament," Delaney said after the game.  "Just going off last year.  I guess I plan for the worst."

Unlike Delaney, Dorenzo Hudson said he felt like the Hokies may still have a chance to back their way into the NCAA Tournament.

"I don't, hopefully we get in," Hudson said.  "I think so.  Yes, no doubt [we deserve to be in]."

For now though, all the Hokies can do is just sit back and wait.

Individual Game Statistics:

Individual Scoring Leaders:

Tyler Hansbrough (UNC)- 28 

A.D. Vassallo (VT)- 26 

Malcom Delaney (VT)-17 

Individual Rebounding Leaders:

A.D. Vassallo (VT)- 10 

Tyler Hansbrough (UNC)- 8 

Jeff Allen (VT) & Deon Thompson (UNC)- 7 

Individual Assist Leaders:

Malcom Delaney (VT)- 10 

Larry Drew II (UNC) & Wayne Ellington (UNC)- 4

Dorenzo Hudson (VT) & Bobby Frasor (UNC)- 3

Team Statistics:

Team Shooting Percentages: (Fg%, 3 pt. %, FT %)

VT- 44.8 (30-67), 42.1 (8-19), 72.7 (8-11)

UNC- 44.6 (29-65), 31.6 (6-19), 71.4 (15-21)

Team Rebounding:

UNC- 44

VT- 33

Team Assists:

UNC- 16

VT-15